Agricultural machine



Ang. 26, 1930. L, C, ESTER 1,774,007

AGRICLTURAL'MACHINE l l s y Y I 4 46 f far ATTORNEY Aug. 26, 1930. L.. c. HEsTER 1,774,007

I AGRICULTURAL MACHINE Filed sept. 22, 1927 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR .Zen' www? \4 Z' JMW ATTORNEY Patented ug. 26, 1930 ruina? LEVI C.`HESTER, OFJACKSON'V'ILLE, FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL MACHINE Appiigatign mea september a2, 1927. seriaiNo. 2,241,276.

This invention relates to improvements in agricultural machines generally, and more particularly to power driven types of such machines.

The principal object of the invention isto. attachment for tractors and the like, and one embodying extremely simpli` provide a plow fied and mechanically refined means for facilitating the attaching of plows, of either the disc blade or moldboard types thereof, in efficient operative position on known makes of tractors withoutr r seriously modifying the structure 'of kthe tractors for the purpose.

Another object of the Ainvention is to provide for a plow structure as hereinbefore characterized, and one embodying' a simple but highly eflicient means for effectively con-r trolling the depth ofpenetration of the shares f or blades of 'either the moldboard or disc types thereof;

A furtherr object of the inventionis to pro-V vide for an `efficient means of the class set forth and one which readily facilitates the lraising and lowering ofa plow share or unit fromy and to soil conditioning position of operation,

and acts to hold the moldboard type of plow share kin substantially level position at all times and throughout the range yof adjustment of the same to and froml normally raised po- 30 sition.

lWith the foregoing' andi other equally important objects in view, the invention resides in thecert'ain n'ewand useful combination,-

construction and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, set forth inthe appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side'elevation', partly in section, of a conventional form of tractor and 40 showing VFigure 2 is a perspective view of the plow attachment per se, vand showing the part-s of the saine as.relativelypositionedv for assembl Y,

Figure 3 is afraginentaryplan view, part-ly in' section, of the hitch device extending between the plow attachment and the tractor,

Figure L,tis a fragmentary top plany view, partly in section, of the rear end of the tract-or inclusive,

f ber or bar 11. This member or bar 11 is sub,-

a practical application of the pref, ferred embodiment of the invention thereto,

" tends andthe plow attachmenuand showing' the manner of coupling the plow frame to the tractor frame or .draw bar, Figure 5 is a vertical sectional detail through the plow attachment and showing the r guide means for holding the plow share substantially level throughout its movements lof adjustment to and from normally: raised po- Y sition,

'Figure v6 is a front elevation of the tractor yB0 and y plow attachment as in Figure 1, and showing the manner of extending `the front axle of the tractor at one 'side of the latter to provide proper clearance between the side ofthe tractor and the adjacent front steering B5 wheel for themountingjof the plow attachment in'p'osition, and v c Figure 7 is a fragmentary top plan vie-w of theextended portion'of the front axle ofthe tract-or, and showing the steering connection of the offset front steering wheel.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar charactersof reference designate corresponding'parts throughout the several views thereof, and more particularly to Figures 1 to 5 T5 the preferred embodiment ofl theA invention, as practically illustrated therein,

comprisesa plow share 10, which is mounted at the forward and downturned end of a inevinstantially straight throughout its rearward C length, and has its rearmost end engaged through an eye orloop 12 formed atthe outer end of a hitch member or tail piece 13, which e is detachably secured at its inner end, as A85 by means of the boltsor screws 14, to the rear end portion of a tractor frame or, and prefere ablyvso, directly to the usual coupling inem- Vber or draw bar a at the rear end of the tractor. This yhitch member ortail piece 13 is 90 of a length to pro-ject to one sideof the tractor and to disposek theeye or loop 12, at` itsouter end, in ia plane passing verticallyy between 1 the. inner side of the right hand traction or 'ground wheel andk the opposed side ofthe tractor frame, .while the member or bar 11 exforwardly from its point ofyengagement with the eye or loop 12 to vdisposeits forward end, and consequently the plow share 10 carried thereby,in al plane immedi!vr 10G y plained.

Extending parallel to the right hand side of the tractor and substantially so with respect to the member or bar 11 is a main supporting member or beam 16, which has its rear end engaged in the eye or loop 12 `at the outer end of the hitch meinberortail piece 13 at the outer side ofthe member or bar 11. These `rearend portions of the member or bar 11 and the member or beam 16 engaged within theeye or ,loop 12vare also engaged on a pivot member or piny 17 extending,crossways through the eye or loop 12 with its outer end projecting through the outer wall of the latter. This projecting endkof the pivot member or pin'` 17 is'apertured to receive through the f same a securing member or bolt 18, which is passed through aligned apertures formed in vertical flanges disposed at the opposite ver,- tical side edges of the outer-wall of the eye or loop 12, substantially as shown in Figure 3.V

Secured on the right hand side ofthe forward part of the main housing or frame of the tractor, as by being bolted thereto,sub`

stantially as shown at 19, 20 in Figure`4, is a ysupporting and guide bracket for the main member or beam 16, which consists of an inner vertical member or bar 21 having its opposite end portions angularly'be'nt inwardly for attached engagement with the vtractor housing, andan outer vertical member or bar 22, which has itslower end portion bent to provide a verticallyy elongatedy loop portion 23, and the end portion of the inner leg of the loop angularly bent as at 24 and apeitured to receive the securing bolt 2O commonly with the lower angularly bent end portion of the inner bracket or guide member -or bar 21. The lvertical portions yof the members or bars 21 and 22 are arranged in spaced parallel relation to form between the same a slotway, which is closed at its lower end by the connected end portion of the looped portion 23 of the member or bar 22. The'forward end ofthe lmain plow supporting member or beam lppassesthroughthe slotway aforesaid, and has its eXtreme forward end terminating in frontof the forward end of the tracto-rhousingframe. The looped end of the slotted guidebracket, thus provided, is supported in a 'plane above that of the hitch member or tail piece 13, so that the main plowsup-port-` ing member orbeam 16 is curvedly bentasat 16," to properly offset its forward end portion for engagement in the slotway lof thel guide memberl or bracketasaforesaid. As indicated, as latj25, the-plow sharefk supporting Lbracket 33, which, in

member or bar 11 is bolted in a slightly downwardly oiiset relation to the main member or beam 16, whereby to have common vertical swinging movements on the pivot member or pin 17. The forward end of the main plow supporting member or beam 16 is curved slightly in an upward direction, and has secured to the same a bearing member orv block 26, in which is vertically journalled a spindle 27, which is preferably formed to provide a crank` portion 28 `immediately below the bearing member or block 26. Secured on the free end of the crank portion 28 is an arm 29 in the outer end of which is journaled, as at 30', a ground disc or wheel 39. rllhis disc or Wheel 30 has rolling contact with the ground surface, when the plow share 10 is disposed .in its operative position.

' 31, whichhasits forward end bolted, as at 32,

at theout'er side of the upper end of the outer member or bar 22 of the guide bracket, and its rearend secured to an angle member or turn, is secured, as by means of the bolt 34, to an adjacent portion of the rear end of the housing frame ofthe tractor. To facilitatevr the desired fastening of the rear end of the stationary member or bar 31 in position, this end of the same is formed to provide a substantiallyy rectangular depending portion 31, which isbolted,as at3l, to and at the outer side of a similar portion 35 of a rack segment 35 rising above the member or bar 31. These depending portionsv31y and 3 5 Lare each provided with a pair of spaced aligning apertures to receive the free ends of the opposite leg portions of a U-bolt 36, which has its looped or closed end enga-ged over the upstanding portion of the angular member or bracket 33. The free ends of the U-bolt 36, after being passed through the aligned openings in the depending portions 31 and 35 are screw threaded to receive on the same the securing nuts 37. The lower portion of the rack segment 35, with which the depending portion 35 is formed, is further bolted, as at 38, to the stationary member or bar 31.

Associated with the rack segment 35 is a hand lever 39, which is pivoted at its lower `en d, as at 40, to the stationary member or bar 31. Mounted on the lever 39 is a boxing 41 in which is housed a latch or dog (not shown) normally disposed in cooperative engagement with the teeth of the rock segment 35. vA hand grip 42 is pivoted at the grip end of the lever 39, and is operatively connected to the latch or dog aforesaid in a usual manner. Pivoted to the hand lever 39 upwardly from its lower pivoted end, as at 43, is the rearwardly disposed end of a bar or rod 44, which has its forward end pivotally connected, as at 45, to the free end of the upper linoperative. positions,

' complished, and which Ythe tractor, the steering arm of a bell-crank lever 46. `The bell cranlr lever y46 -is pivotally mounted on the bolt 32 inthe upper "end of the supporting or guide bracket, and which is also employed to secure the forward end of the stationary member orbar 31Jto the latter. The other and forwardly extending arm of the 'bellfcrank lever 46 has depending from the same a connector 47, which has its'lower end attached to the forward end portion of the main plow ksupporting member or bar 16.,y This connector-47 may be of any suitable forni, rigid or flexible, but-is preferably inthe form of a flexible member or chain, as shown. An expansion and contracting member, such as the coiled spring 48 is attached at one end to the yupper arm of the bell crank lever 46, and has its other end attached to the stationary member or bar 31,

and in a manner that its contracting effort always tends to sustain the bell crank lever 46 and its cooperative parts in their normally forward end ofthe .main plow supporting member or beam 31 is held suspended from the connector 47 in raised-position with the plow share -10 lifted from soil conditioning f operation. s Y f Rigidly secured to the -rear side of the plow share 10 'and rising therefrom is a guide member or bar 49, which has its upper end portion bent or curved iii a forward direction, as at 49', and engaged-'through the opening lor eye of an eye bolt 50 adj ustably secured in the stationarymeniber or bar 31, the latter being provided with a plurality of spaced openings, whereby suoli adjustment canl be .readily acnecessary only when different sizes or makes of plow shares are attachedto the 4lower plow beam 11 and the guide bar 49. This guide member 49, and particularly its upperL curved end portion 49, cooperates with the veye bolt 50 in av manner to hold the moldboard substantially levelin any position of lowering and raising adjustment' of the same to and from operative relation with the soil. As the plow point penetrates the soil, in the lowering movement of the main and lower supporting members or beams 11 and 16, the

mold board will remain substantially level at any desired depth by the movement-vof the upper curvedv end portion 491', of the guide member or bar 49, in the eye bolt 50. This automatic self-adjustment of the plow share 'l0 obtains by'y reason of the relative movements of the parts of the structure during its raising and lowering movements.`

To eHect the mounting'of they plow attachments, as thus constructed and arranged, on ground wheel 58 at the right hand side of the front end of the tractor is mounted on a spindle 59, which is pivoted, as at 60, to the outer end of an eX- tension 61, which, iiiturn, is pivoted, as at 62,

' from his seated iii which positions, the I adjustment Vwill bewhat is claimed is: j

`moldboard mounted yfor fore and tothe usualspindle receiving end of the front i l the attached plow share 10, or the disc plow the latter to penetrate blades 56, will cause the soil to be conditioned. By manipulating the hand lever 39, to various positions ina forward direction, the depth of penetration of the plow share 10, or the discplow blades 56 will be correspondingly varied or regulated. However,

`hard packed soil, a rigid link connection may be substituted for the flexible connection. or chain 49, so that the forward movement yof the hand lever 39. will forward end of the plow beam 16, or the plow beam 16a' In'the use Yof the moldboa'rd type of plow share 10, asftheforward end of itsy supporting plow beam 16 is lowered, the point of-y the share will be directed downwardlyjto inclined soil, penetrating po'sition,fand the plow share, in its entirety, will be swung on its pivot-moun ying 15 by the movement of the upper curved end portion lof the guide member vor rod 49 in the eye boltj 5 0, so. as to assume a flat or horizontal position 'when the limit of Vits penetrating movement is reached, in which position it normally functions to properly condition `the soil through Vwhich it is forced by the forward travel of the tractor. When the hand lever 39 is moved if vdesired or necessary, as' when attempting to conditionV exceedingly forciblyv depress theV to its rearmost position with respect to ythe forward end of the plow rack segment 35, the

will be lifted beam 16, or the plowbeam 16a and the plow share or blades withdrawn from.

soil conditioning position.

Without further description, it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilledk inthe art, and it will of course be understood that #changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, withoutdepartiiig from the spirit ofthe invention or its scope as claimed.

Having thus fully described the invention,

lli

' 1. The combinationk with' a tractor, of'la" vaft rocking movement at one side of the tractor, vertical adjustable means carried bysaid tractor for varying the depth of penetrationof the soil by said moldboard,'and cooperative means carriedby the tractor and said moldboard for f board for holding the vlatter 'vertical plane relative thereto,

holding thelatter substantially level in any position of adjustmentof the first named means.

2. AThe combination with a tractor, of a support mounted for vertical adjustment at oneside of the tractor, a. moldboard mounted for fore and aft rockingmovement on said support, and cooperative means carried by the tractor and said moldboard for holding the latter substantially level in any position of adjustment of said support.

3. The combination with a tractor, of a Vbeam pivotally mounted for vertical adjustment y,at one side of the tractor, a moldboard mounted for fore and aft rocking movement on said beam, and cooperative means carried `by the tractor and said moldboard for holding in any position the latter substantially level of adjustment of said beam.

' 4. The combination with a tractor, of a beam pivotally mounted at oney end at one side of the tractor, a moldboard mounted for fore and aft rocking movement on saidbeam, means `for, adjusting saidy beam verticallyv to vary the Vdepth of'penetration of the soil by said moldboard, and cooperative means carried by the-tractor and said moldboard for holding thel latter substantially level in any position of adjustment of said beam.

5. The combination with a tractor, of a beam supported at one side of the tractor, a

moldboard carried by said beam and rockable in a longitudinalvertical plane relative thereto, means for adjusting saidbeam'vertically to vary the depth of soil penetration of said moldboard,v andcooperative means carried by the tractor and-,said moldboard for holding the latter substantially level in any position of the adjustmenty of the beam.v v

6'. The combination with ra tractor,..of a beampivotally supportedat one side of the tractor, a moldboard carried by said beam and rockable in a longitudinal vertical plane relative thereto, means for adjusting said beam vertically to vary the depth of soil penetration of said moldboard, and cooperative means carried by the tractor and said moldsubstantially level in any position of the adj ustment of the beam.

7. The combination with a tractor, of a beam pivoted at its rear end to an adjacent portion ofthe tractor, a moldboard carried by said beam. and rockabie in a longitudinal means for adj usting said beam vertically to vary the depth ofsoil penetration of said moldboard, and cooperative means carried by the tractor and said moldboard Afor, holding the latter substantially level in any position of the adjustment ofthe beam;

8. The combination. with a tractor, of a beam .pivoted at its rear end to an adjacent portion ofthe tractor atoneside thereof, a

moldboardfcarried'by said beam and rockable "the latter substantially inc/4,00?A

in a longitudinal vertical planerelative thereto, means for adjusting' said beam vertically to vary the depth of soil penetration of said moldboard, and cooperative means carried by the tractor and said moldboard for holding level in of the adjustment of the beam.

9. The combination with a tractor, of a beam pivoted at one end to the rear end of the tractor, a moldboard carried by said beam and rocliable in a longitudinal vertical plane relative thereto, means for adjusting said beam vertically to vary the depth of soil penetration of said moldboard, means carried by the tractor for guiding the forward end of said beam and cooperative means carried by the tractor and said moldboard for holding the latter substantially level in any position of the adjustment of tl e bea-m.

l0. The combination with a tractor, of a beam pivoted at one end to one side of the tractor, a moldboard pivotally mounted on said beam, a frame carried by the tractor, means carried by said frame for adjusting said beam vertically to vary the depth of soil penetration of said moldboard, means carried by said frame for guiding the forward end of said beam, and means carried by said frame and said inoldboard for holding the latter substantially level in any position of adjustment of the beam.

1l. The combination with a tractor, of a beam pivoted at one end to one side of the tractor, amoldboard pivotally mounted on said beam, a frame carried by the tractor, means carried by said frame for adjusting said beam vertically to vary the depth of soil penetration of said moldboard, means carried by said frame for guiding the forward end of said beam, a ground engaging support at the forward endof said beam, and means carried by said frame and said moldboard. for holding the latter substantially level in any position of adjustment of the beam.

12. The combination with a tractor, of a beam pivoted at one end to one side of the tractor, a moldboard pivotally mounted on said beam, a frame carried by the tractor, means carried by said frame for adjusting said beam vertically to vary the depth of soil penetration of said moldboard, means carried by said frame for guidingthe forward end of said beam, spring means for assisting said adjusting means in its movement to lift the said beam for the withdrawal of saidmoldboard from the soil, a ground engaging support at the forward end of said beam, and means carried by said frame board for holding the latter substantially level in any position ofv adjustment of the beam.

13. The combination `with a tractor, a moldboard pivotally supported for vertical movement at one site of the tractor, means carried by the tractor for adjusting said moldany position and said moldboard vertically to vary the depth 'of penetration of the soil thereby, a guide-means carried by the tractor, and a member carried by said moldboard 1and cooperative With said guide means for holding the moldboard substantially level in any of its positions of adjustment. y

14. The combination With a tractor, a moldboard pivotally supported for vertical movement at one side o the tractor, means carfr ried by the tractor for adjusting said moldboard vertically to vary its depth of penetration of the soil thereby, an eye carried by the tractor, and a rod rising from saidA mold-v board and having' a bent portion engageable through said eye whereby the moldboard will be held substantially level in any of itspositions of adjustment:

15. The combination yvith a tractor, a beam pivoted at one side of the tractor, a moldboard pivoted to said'beam, means for adjusting said beam vertically of the tractor 'to vary the depth of soil penetration ot' said moldboard, a guide means carried by the tractor, and a member rising from said moldboard and engageable With said guide means for holding the moldboard'substantially' level in any of its positions of adjustment.

16. The combination with a tractor, a beam pivoted at one side of the tractor, a mold- Y board pivoted to said beam, a frame carried bythe ytractor above said beam, lmeans clarried by said frame for adjusting said beam vertically of. the tractor to vary the depth i board pivoted to said beam,. a frame carriedv of soil penetration lofsaid moldboard, a guide member carried by said frame, and armember rislng romsaid moldboard and engagef able With said guide means for holding thek moldboard substantially level in any of its positions of adjustment. f

17 The combination With a tractor, a beam pivoted at one side of the tractor, a moldby the tractor above said beam, means carried by said frame for adjusting said beam vertically of said tractor to vary the depth of soil penetration of said moldboard, a guide vmember carried'by said vframe and adjustable relatively thereto, and a member rising from said moldboard. and engageable WithY said guidel means for holding the moldboard substantially level in anyfof its positions of LEvI o.l BESTER adjustment. 

